Wiñaymarka Lake Lake

Address: Wiñaymarka Lake (southern basin of Lake Titicaca), straddling Peru and Bolivia near Puno and Copacabana

Wiñaymarka Lake is the southern basin of Lake Titicaca on the Andean Altiplano, spanning the Bolivia-Peru border. It is often referred to as the smaller or southern part of the Titicaca system.

Shallow bays, reed-lined shores and small settlements characterize much of the basin; the lake is used locally for fishing and transport. The area is visited for its high-altitude lakeside landscapes and for access to regional towns on the Titicaca shores.

Hydrologically and culturally it forms part of the greater Titicaca lake system and shares the same Andean high plain setting that defines the region. Human use has long included artisanal fisheries and local transport routes.

Wiñaymarka lies on the Altiplano between the Bolivian and Peruvian highlands, southwest of La Paz and within the broader Lake Titicaca watershed.

• Relation to Lake Titicaca: Part of the Lake Titicaca system and commonly referred to as the southern or “small” basin of the lake.
• Strait of Tiquina: Separated from the larger northern basin by the Strait of Tiquina, a regular ferry crossing for vehicles and people.

Puno (Peru) is the usual base for visiting the southern basin of Lake Titicaca. From Puno’s port (Plaza de Armas area) licensed passenger boats and tour operators run day trips to islands in the Wiñaymarka basin; cross-border trips to Bolivia depart from Copacabana on the Bolivian side.

• If planning to visit the Wiñaymarka (southern part of Lake Titicaca), base in Puno and use licensed boat operators for crossings.
• Acclimatize in Puno first - the lake sits at about 3,800 m altitude and altitude sickness hits quickly.
• Bring sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat; the Andean sun is intense even when air temperatures feel cool.